Lt Gov Flanagan at the Child Care Roundtable
Round table discussions took place today at the public Library with Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan visited Fergus Falls, on Friday to highlight the child care plan in the One Minnesota Budget.
Flanagan hosted the discussion with city and county leaders, business leaders, and parents to discuss the plan, which would increase child care access and affordability, and provide middle-class families with up to $10,500 to help pay for child care.
In a statement released from the Governor’s Office, the Walz-Flanagan budget proposal, $539 million in tax credits in 2024-2025, and a $547 million tax credit in 2026-2027, would be provided to expand the Child and Dependent Care Credit, reducing costs for 100,000 Minnesota households.
Families making under $200,000 with one child could receive up to $4,000 a year for child care costs.
Families with two children could receive up to $8,000, and families with three children could receive up to $10,500.
Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan also propose expanding public pre-K seats for nearly 25,000 eligible children, investing in early learning scholarships, and improving child care access for Minnesota families by increasing child care assistance payment rates.
Additionally, the Walz-Flanagan budget proposes a grant program that allows colleges and universities to provide parents or expectant parents with the support they need to complete their education.
The One Minnesota Budget will support children and families, invest in Minnesota’s economic future, protect Minnesotans’ health and safety, and provide the largest tax cut in state history. The child care plan would provide economic relief to middle-class and lower-income families, reduce child poverty, and improve outcomes for families at every stage of life.
Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan visited the Pioneer Kids Child Care facility, today after the round table talks, and even shared some time to read a book to the young children, while visiting the facility.
Lieutenant Governor said this about the facility,
“this should be a model for business across Minnesota”.
In a discussion with KBRFradio.com News, Flanagan talked about the budget surplus, and when asked about grants tax incentives,
“Some of the grants that we have through deed, can go for just that, and we know that some have gone through Ottertail County which have helped to establish child care.”
“our total budget for total child care early childhood is just over a billion dollars.”
Gov Walz release his budget plans, Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan shared on this topic,
“There are dollars set aside specifically for the workforce”, ”Making sure 100% goes directly for the compensation for childcare workforce, we need to make sure were recruiting and retaining child care workers”
Flanagan believes this plan is a historic opportunity to make child care more affordable and accessible for Minnesotans across the state. She said that the child care needs in Greater Minnesota are unique from the needs in urban areas, and she is proud that the plan addresses the entire spectrum of need in the state’s child care plan and One Minnesota Budget.
Video of the Roundtable
Lt Governor Flanagan Reads to kids at Pioneer Kids Child Care